2007 Alfa Romeo 159 1.9L Diesel · RF57 XYZ

The 2007 Alfa Romeo 159 presents a stable and reassuring maintenance trend, with the most recent MOT on 12 May 2023 at 136,873 miles passing cleanly with zero defects recorded. The preceding tests on 13 June 2022 at 136,380 miles and 1 June 2021 at 132,066 miles also passed without advisories or failures, indicating consistent upkeep across multiple years. The only anomaly is a failed test on 14 January 2020 at 131,340 miles, though no defects were recorded for that failure, suggesting a procedural or administrative issue rather than a mechanical one, with a retest passing just ten days later on 24 January 2020 at the same mileage. The mileage accumulation tells a clear story of very light recent use. Between the June 2021 test at 132,066 miles and the May 2023 test at 136,873 miles, the car covered just 4,807 miles over nearly two years, averaging roughly 2,400 miles annually in that window. Prior to that, the annual rate was closer to 7,000 miles, which is typical for a vehicle of this age. The sharp drop in usage after mid-2021 raises the possibility of extended periods standing still, a pattern that can cause its own problems such as flat-spotted tyres, seized brake calipers, perished rubber bushes, and fuel system deterioration from stale petrol sitting in the tank. Despite the clean MOT record, a buyer should approach this 159 with a thorough mechanical inspection focused on areas the MOT does not fully stress-test. The 159 is known for corrosion around rear wheel arches, sills, and subframes, so a close check for structural rust beneath the car is essential even if no advisories have been flagged. Suspension components, particularly front lower arm bushes and rear trailing arm links, should be inspected for deterioration given the age and the possibility of long stationary periods. The 2.2 petrol engine common to this generation can develop oil leaks from cam cover gaskets and variable valve timing solenoids, so the engine bay should be examined carefully with the car cold. Brake condition deserves particular attention given the low recent mileage. Binding calipers and corroded disc surfaces are common on cars that sit unused, and the MOT static check does not always catch intermittent sticking. A road test under varied braking conditions, including a sustained motorway run, will reveal whether the brakes release fully and whether the car pulls to one side. Tyre age should also be checked, as rubber degrades with time regardless of tread depth, and original or aged replacements from the low-usage period may need renewing even if they appear serviceable.